Gifty Nnaji, a student of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State has emerged overall winner of Amnesty International 2024 National Human Rights Debate.
Abdul Korede of the University of Ibadan emerged the first runner-up while Enebechi Joel of Enugu State University of Science and Technology emerged the second runner-up.
The debate is aimed at expanding the understanding of human rights and encouraging the integration of human rights in university spaces, Isa Sanusi, Director, Amnesty International Nigeria.
According to the statement, 12 universities across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria participated in this year’s debate.
The universities are; University of Lagos, Bowen University (Gifty Nnaji), Enugu State University of Science and Technology, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Cross Rivers State University, University of Calabar, Landmark University, Adamawa State University, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
The final debate was held at the Baze University in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mr. Sanusi said the programme is one of the organisation’s initiatives aimed at spreading human rights education and bringing young people into the human rights space.
He said the inter-university debate also aims to create a culture of debate and encourage young people to have a good idea of human rights, so that they can grow up to help create Nigeria where human rights are respected.
“This debate is part of Amnesty International’s efforts to empower Nigerian youth and university students with deeper understanding as well as engagement with human rights and to enhance their debating skills and capacity to convince and make change possible.
As a human rights organisation, we will continue to expand our engagements with Nigerian youth through innovative ways.”
